A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a statue of Jesus can remain atop Montana's Big Mountain.

The statue was erected on federal land in the 1950s to honor World War II veterans.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sued to get it taken down, claiming a religious icon has no place on public property.

But U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen ruled that although the statue is, indeed, a religious symbol it does not violate the establishment of religion clause of the Constitution.

"To some, Big Mountain Jesus is offensive and to others it represents only a religious symbol," Chistensen wrote. "But the court suspects that most who happen to encounter Big Mountain Jesus, it neither offends nor inspires."

He said that to many the statue "serves as a historical reminder of those bygone days of sack lunches, ungroomed runs, rope tows, T-bars, leather ski boots, and 210 cm. skis."

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a Christian legal group that fought to keep the monument in place, called the decision a "common sense" ruling.

"What we are seeing on the other side is iconoclasm, the destruction of idols. If they disagree with something religiously, they have to destroy it," Becket Fund attorney Eric Rassbach said.